Folding table



" (ModeL) G. S. KNAPP. FOLDING TABLE.

BIO/283,119. Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

- WITNESSES Attar I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE s. KNAPP, or oHIoAGo, ILLINoIs.

FOLDING: TABLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent'No. 283,119, dated August14, 1883.

Application filed July 15, 1832. (Modem To aZL whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. KNAPP, of

Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is aspecification. I

The object of this invention is to produce a light and strong tablewhich may be quickly.

folded intoa ,very compact form for transportation or storage. I

To this end it consists in the peculiar construction and combination, ashereinafter detailed, of pairs of crossed and pivoted legs, perforatedangle-plates connecting them, and a flexible slatted top. having'studsseated in the angle-plates.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my table in position for use. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the topin its extended condition. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 4 isa vertical section on the line 00 :0, Fig. 1, illustrating the manner inwhich the top and legs are conlegs attached.

nectedwith each other. Fig. 5 is a perspec- .tive view of one of thecorner-pieces with the A represents the frame of the table, made ofrectangular skeleton form, consisting of four duplicate pairs of legs, aand 6, arranged in planesbounding the sides of a square. Each pair,consists of two duplicate legs connected centrally by a pivot, c. Thelegs of each pair are connected at their upper and lower ends, byangular corner-plates d, to the-corresponding ends of the two adjacentpair of legs, it being of course understood that each pair stands in aplane at right angles to the two other pairs. 7 I

The corner-plates by which the legs are connected are clearlyrepresented in Fig. 5. Each consists of two vertical ears or plates atright angles to each other to receive connecting-pivots, and of ahorizontal connectingrweb at the top, the latter provided with avertical hole or opening, e. The severalpairs of legs, connected bymeans of these plates and of the horizontal pivots f, may be extended inthe manner shown in Fig. 1, to form a largerect- .plates of the frame.

means of transverse cords z, woven back and forth between them, or byany other equiva lent flexible connection which will admit of foldedtogether, parallel or substantially parthe series beingspread. into aflat form and of their being rolled into a compact shape at will.

For the purpose of holding the top in a flat extended position, I applyto its under side, at or near the opposite ends, two cross-bars, k, eachbar being pivoted. at Znear one edge of the top, and having its oppositeend beveled and arranged to engage within a hooked armor plate, m,secured to the opposite edge of the top. When the top is extended, thebars are swung into position transversely of the slats, in the directionindicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, and in so doing their inclined orbeveled ends are forced tightly within the plates m,'and thereby causedto hold the top firmly in its extended condition, give it asolid supportfrom beneath, and prevent it from being folded or closed together. Eachof the transverse" barsk is provided on the under side, near itsopposite ends, with two depend ing studs, a, so constructed and arrangedthat when the top is extended they may be inserted into the openings 6in the respective corner When thus applied, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4,the studs retain the top in position from the frame, and also serve I asa means of preventing the frame from spreading or extending under theweight to which it is subjected, the frame and the top thus serving togive a mutual support.

The tendency of the legs to spread or open at the top under the weightis of. great service in this construction, inasmuch as it tends tospread or move the cross-bars 7c from each other, whereby their beveledends are crowded firmly against the bearings m, and thereby caused tomaintain the parts rigidly in position. I

As regards the construction of the cornerpieces or angle-irons, theessential requisite is that they shall possess the flanges or plates atright angles to each other for connection with the legs, and anopeningin the top for the relIOO ception of the studs upon thetable-top, and

they may be varied in form, as described, provided these characteristicsare retained. The plates are designed merely as a means of connectionbetween the parts. Those at the foot of the legs may be made with orwithout the perforated web or cross-plate, as preferred. As the presenceof the cross-plate, however, gives additional strength and stiffness tothe device, it is preferred to employ the same on the lowercorner-pieces as well as on the upper. It will be notedthat the frame issupported by its legs or cross-bars resting directly upon the floor orground, and that the cornerpieces at the base do not in any sense serveas li;eet or supports to carry the weight of the ars. I a When the tableis to be folded for storage or transportation, the top is disconnectedby removing the projection 01. from the cornerpieces and the frameclosed compactly together, with the legs parallel or substantiallyparallel with each other. After this the crossbars 70 are turned to theposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, parallel with the stripscomposing the top. The top may then be rolled into an exceedinglycompact form and placed around or against the legs.

I hereby disclaim in this patent any and all features or combinations offeatures which are described or shown in my application for patent for afolding chair filed July 15, 1882, N0.

The present invention is restricted to those matters and things whichare hereinafter claimed, and as to all matters which may be described orshown, but which are not claimed,

the right is reserved to make the same the subject of a separateapplication.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a foldingtable, the combination of four pairs of crossed legs, each pair unitedby a central pivot, the perforated angle-plates connected to therespective pairs of legs, and the flexible table -top composed ofparallel wooden strips united by transverse flexible connections,substantially as described, and provided with depending studs seated inthe angle-plates, as described and shown.

2. In combination with the folding legs, substantially as shown, theperforated angle plates at their upper ends, the flexible slatted top,the cross-bars, and the studs adapted 'to engage with the angle-plates,substantially as described and shown.

3. In a folding table, the flexible top composed of parallel slats, thelips m, attached thereto, the pivoted cross-bars k, having their freeends arranged to engage with lips m, and the series of crossed andpivoted legs, as shownv and described, detachably connected at theirupper ends with the cross-bows, substantially as shown, whereby the legsare caused to hold the bars and the bars caused to sustain the top andhold the same in an extended condi tion.

GEORGE S. KNAPP.

Witnesses:

THOMAS KANE, FRANK R. RIDELL.

